Opera Club: Paderewski’s ‘MANRU’

The Opera Club will hold a free screening of Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s dramatically romantic opera “Manru” at the Learning Center of Clubhouse 3 on Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome. Margaret Gillon will introduce this story of a young woman, Ulana, who falls in love with a nomadic gypsy, Manru, and faces the inherent battle of conflicting lifestyles.

Act 1 opens as Ulana takes leave of her mother, Hedwig, to join her beloved in the Tatra mountains as his bride. However, Hedwig states that Ulana can only return if she permanently abandons Manru, who is a member of the Roma tribe of wandering gypsies. The village sorcerer gives Ulana a love potion, should she ever need it, to restore her currently overwhelming love (between the two lovers). Thereafter, both Ulana and Manru are ejected by the villagers.

Act 2 portrays the couple, who has welcomed a child. Ulana is fully devoted to her home, but Manru is restless and wants more freedom with a wandering lifestyle. When the gypsy tribe appears, Jagu, a fellow gypsy, tells Manru that he deserves to be their new leader and that Asa, a highly attractive Roma, is still interested in him. When Ulana hears about this, she gives Manru the secret love potion from the sorcerer.

Act 3 shows that Manru can no longer resist the pull of his former life. He replaces the former tribal leader and succumbs to the charms of Asa. Thereupon, Ulana throws herself into a mountain lake and the sorcerer reappears to throw Manru off a cliff. The music combines both folk music of central Europe and late romantic music found in the music of Bizet, Verdi and Wagner.

People are encouraged to wear masks indoors. No dues or fees are collected. For more information contact Margaret Gillon at 562-370-3844 or margaretgi@ yahoo.com. This opera is performed in Polish and will be shown with English subtitles.

—Sylvan Von Burg